Access at Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park

Getting here, parking and facilities

• Arriving by car

  • There is a brown sign on the A592 for the main Aira Force car park with welcome building, toilets and tearoom.
  • It is an open air car park with a tarmac, gravel and compacted earth surface.
  • There are four Blue Badge parking bays. The nearest Blue Badge bay is 20m from the visitor reception.
  • It is possible to drop visitors off outside the Welcome Building if all designated parking bays are full.
  • Parking is free for National Trust members and Blue Badge holders, but charges apply for all other visitors.

• Public transport

  • There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the site with regular bus services.
  • The nearest train station is Penrith.
  • Penrith station is 10.6 miles away from the site.
  • Use Travel Line to plan your journey

• Welcome Building

  • The Welcome Building can be found in the main Aira Force car park.
  • The following are available in the Welcome Building; seating, facilities for assistance dogs, maps and a large map in the car park, virtual tour and second hand book shop.
  • Access into the area is via steps and a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps).
  • The slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
  • There is room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) throughout the area.
  • All flooring is smooth and even.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 90cm.
  • There is not a low level section at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
  • There are chairs without armrests available in the visitor reception.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
    

• Tea-room

  • The tea-room is approximately 100m from the car park and 200m from the Welcome Building. Follow the path from the main car park to the side of the toilet block.
  • There is one relatively steep incline up a natural banking, next to the toilet block. The rest of the path is level.
  • The path is of slate chippings.
  • A concrete ramp leads to the entrance of the tearoom.
  • The entrance door is 79cm wide, and is a manual, inwards opening door with a glass window. This is visible from the counter – staff can assist with opening the door if required.
  • The tearoom has a hard floor and few soft furnishings, so there are some sound echoes. Rubber feet have been added to the chairs to try and minimise noise.
  • The tearoom is lit with a combination of natural light and LED spotlight bulbs.
  • The tables and chairs are not fixed and are moveable as required.
  • The counter height is 90cm.
  • Straws, chunky handled cutlery, and double-handled mugs are available on request.
  • Outdoors there is an open patio area which has circular wooden picnic tables.

• Toilets and Accessible Toilet Facilities

  • The toilet and changing facilities available include: an accessible toilet solely for the use of disabled people and a step free standard toilet.
  • The toilet with adaptations can be found in the toilet block to the left side of the toilet block.
  • This toilet is approximately 40m from the visitor reception in the building near the road entrance to the car park at Aira Force.

• Wheelchair hire

  • There is one manual wheelchair available to borrow for free at the Welcome Building.

• Access to the estate

  • The picnic area is located to the right of the Welcome Building and there is step-free level access into the area. Adapted picnic tables are available.
  • The path to the glade and arboretum is gravel with uneven sections and slopes.
  • The paths to the waterfall are uneven, with steep sections, rough stone steps, narrow sections and loose gravel.
  • The path to Aira Green on Ullswater lakeshore is accessible for most, with a gravel surface and slope. There is the A591 to cross and a gate leading off the road.

  Walking routes

  • The linear walk from Aira Force to Glencoyne is suitable for many, there is a detailed route description with map and photos that can be downloaded.
  • Other walking routes can be found on the map and here online.
  • There is a Virtual Reality (VR) headset that takes you along the footpath to the waterfall and on to Gowbarrow Fell. It is in the Welcome Building.